Imagine with me for a minute: You're a 14-year-old girl, your parents are suddenly gone, and you're left to care for your younger siblings with zero resources. Your younger sisters are ages 9, 7, twins 4, 3, and a baby. Are you feeling panicked yet? These are the shoes that big-sister Katherin was filling for over a month, alone.

They are not alone now. These 7 girls arrived here at GiveHope2Kids one week ago. They came with only the clothes on their backs. All were malnourished and two had bronchitis. They were listless and obviously insecure.

It's just one week later, but already you can see a change in these girls. They're more alert, more active, and they smile. It's amazing how one week of good care can make such a difference.

But one week of care isn't our goal. We're in this for the long-haul. If we can reunite a child with family, that is obviously our ideal, but for most of our kids that's just not possible. For as long as a child is here, we are raising them in the best family-environment that we can. We will educate them and prepare them to support themselves as independent adults, and not let them go until they're ready to fly. We want to be their forever-family.

Seven sisters are now living with Grandma Gladys. We will be their home and family for as long as they need it.

Will you help us do this? We were already needing sponsors and adding in 7 more kids makes our need for sponsors that much more urgent! Be a blessing to these kids. Help us a make a difference in their lives!

I'm leading a Titus school outreach team. After leaving Mexico, driving to LA, flying to Costa Rica and busing to Panama we've finally made it to YWAM Chiriqui! It was nice to be able to settle in and get a good night sleep. Thus begins the Titus outreach.

Our first day consisted of orientation to our new location, prepping for teachings, exploring Boquete, teaching at the base Bible study and preparing more teachings for tomorrow. We hit the ground running. We're stoked for our next two months in Panama!

Today we began teaching the Bible Overview at a boys home where we taught the character and nature of God, creation, the fall of man, promise of restoration, and the call of Abraham. After teachings we played them in a game of basketball then finished up the evening with another interactive bible study with the kids from indigenous communities that stay at the YWAM base to continue their education. Outreach is fun, God is good and His word is going forth!

Thank you for praying with us!

{Top: Berkeley and the outreach team she is leading. Bottom: Outreach at the boys home.}

"I have seen the smoke from the campfires of a thousand villages where the name of Christ has never been proclaimed."

I love that image. The great missionary Robert Moffat looked out across the velds of South Africa and his heart cried out for the unreached nations before him. The smoke rising up across the horizon was a constant reminder that the task was unfinished. With every flame came a spiraling cloud. A thousand tribes of men, women and children circling around the fires and from the distance he watched as those signal fires marked out the nations.

I have seen the smoke.

Moffat had followed the call of God into missions as a young man, spurred forward by the testimonies from Moravian missionaries, stories he heard sitting at his mother’s knee. His soul shook with an unquenchable passion to reach those nations and proclaim the name of Jesus.

I have seen the smoke.

Every time I read these words my soul leaps into action. I’m stirred to prayer and spurred to reach unreached villages. But Africa has changed so much in the last two centuries since Moffat first arrived in January of 1817. There are still villages and there are still fires. There are still spirals of smoke rising up across the African plains and desert dunes where the name of Jesus Christ has never been proclaimed.

Have you ever felt like God was asking you to do something for him that was outside your comfort zone; something that made you anxious inside and question, "Is that really you God?" I've come to find that happens often in the Christian life. There is a battle everyday between what God is saying, and what our human nature is saying. So it only makes sense that God's word tells us to pick up our cross DAILY (Luke 9:23). To put on the full armor of God and pray in the Spirit at ALL TIMES (Eph. 6:10-18). True Christianity isn't just "fluffy stuff," it's often very INTENSE. Spiritual warfare is real. But, however intense this walk with the Lord may be, God is always with us and has the final victory. In this truth we can be fully confident.

As we spend more time in God's presence, and in the Word, we begin to gain profound understanding about the fact that our life is not about us. God asks us as his followers to give up our own way so we can fully follow him. Does he do this simply to control us? No, he still gives us free will. He asks us to surrender because of his great love for us. He can see everything with far better vision than we can. He has the ability to know what is best for his children and wants us to walk in Faith and Trusting in his ways; his direction, timing, everything.

In Psalm 119, there are some verses I would like to highlight. The chapter emphasizes that in the midst of everything, we can delight in the ways of the Lord. I believe this is God's heart for us as his followers. It's normal to wonder in circumstances, "What is happening God? What do you see that I don't?" However in the end, we need to remember that God is, and will always be, on the throne. In him alone we can find refuge, strength, wisdom, rest, peace, mercy, victory, and so much more.

"I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands" (Psalm 119, vs.59-60). "I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure" (vs. 162). "How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life" (vs. 103-104).

Are we hungry for him daily? Are we obeying him without delay? Do we delight in his ways? Christianity isn't about people being perfect. It's about imperfect people continuously seeking and obeying the God who IS perfection. In following Christ, we acknowledge that God has a greater plan than we do, and it's His grace through us that qualifies us for anything.

The Rock was packed out tonight. A rainy night. A night when we even had to cancel a class of 16 students because their teacher was sick. The tables were still full.

Last night a girl got healed at the Rock after 5 years of pain in her shoulders and back. Tonight, at least 5 people came to the Rock for the first time. More than 5 people heard the gospel. Our Taiwanese staff got to share the gospel with our guests in their native language, and one girl boldly told us she wants to know Jesus.

There is no denying that God is moving here, no denying that each seed planted, watered, and exposed to the light is one hundred percent worth it and that living life with Jesus is one hundred percent worth it. Praise God, glory to God, good night!

Also enjoy this video update from YWAM Taipei, where Rebecca is serving, how God is moving amongst the students there:

DTS第三週-傳福音，這次是遠從蒙大拿來的Raju來教導我們課程當中學生們也實際到街上去傳福音。During the 3rd week of DTS, Raju, from YWAM Montana, came to teach us about evangelism. During this week we also got to practically learn how to do evangelism by going out onto the streets.Raju 也教到說『當神要我們做一件事時，要做的是順服神，不要去看結果，也想想神要我們在這當中學到什麼』Raju also taught us that when God wants us to do something, we need to submit to God, we shouldn't look at the results. We need to think of what God wants us to learn through what He is asking us to do.羅馬書1:16 我不以福音為恥；這福音本是神的大能，要救一切相信的，先是猶太人，後是希利尼人。Romans 1:16"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."Video by Zoey Chen!